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Album Details
- Artist: Pilot Touhill
- Album: Keeping Secrets
- Label: 17th Street Records
- Year of Release: 2012
- ME Rating:
- Reviewed by: charlesmartel on 2013-03-19
RecommendImagine a sort of reggae, rock, jazz crossover which is not - thankfully - anything like reggaeton. It has been a path which others have trodden, most notably the Police and Sting, to the latter of which there is a more than passing resemblance in terms of the voice, most notably, "One Thing" and "I'm All Yours". But whereas Sting, after he had struck out on his own, abandoned the infectious, up-beat pop he had hitherto released with the Police, to disappear, with each ensuing release, slowly up his own backside, Pilot Touhill has kept that infectious, memorable, hummable singalong quality in all of the songs on this EP.
Now, while this is something which is without doubt, admirable, there is a fine line between playing something memorable and unique and playing something instantly forgettable because it is not sufficiently distinct from those who occupy a similar musical niche. Pilot Touhill has, remarkably, managed to do both on the same release.
Take, for example, "I'm All Yours." There is something here which makes this track stand out head and shoulders above the rest. The refrain has a stronger rock feel to it, without losing the syncopation of the drumming, which puts it somewhere in the region of bands from the early eighties post-punk, something Americans call for some reason the Second British Invasion. This was a period of great originality and innovation, and Pilot Touhill lives up to the promise. Compare this with "Doin' Time" which comes complete with handclapping to reinforce the beat. On this track Touhill tries to slur his words a little in John Martyn style. At times, it almost sounds like something Sade would have done. Sure, your foot will tap, but there is little to recommend this, especially once it has finished.
Perhaps this is indicative of a split personality, drawn in different directions perhaps by the competing pressures of staying close to one's artistics ideals or pandering to potential wider success, possibly a more commercial outlook. If so, then the title track, which concludes the EP, offers probably the best way forward, combining as it does the best of both options. Pilot Touhill has managed to make a personal musical statement. There is opportunity within. What is needed is a clearer focus as to who, beyond himself, that statement is aimed at.
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Log In or Register to Rate Albumson 2012-08-02 Michael_Morrison Said:
Bonus Editorial
What makes Indie Musicians so successful?
If you've ever wondered how independent artists end up gaining so many fans then this blog post will show you a couple of ways that you and your band can promote yourselves and gain more followers. It takes a lot of hard work and patience but it is worth it in the end.
The internet is one of the best places for indie artists to make themselves more well known. Many bands upload their songs to websites like MySpace which helps to attract a wider audience. These websites are ideal if you're looking for something new and different to listen to, or even if you want to find some interesting background music while you're playing partypoker and surfing the web. But what helps indie bands gain so much popularity?
Marketing
If you have a great song which you plan to release, then marketing your band is very important. You have to do more than just announcing your new single on Facebook or Tweet about it a few times. You are sure to have invested a lot of money into your band, so real marketing is often required in order to make the money back. You can gain more followers by doing live shows, interviews, guest appearances and more. Just remember that many successful musicians put just as much time into promoting their music as they do making it.
Online fan base
The internet is the perfect place to build up relationships with existing fans as well as gain new ones. It's important to have your own website where you can link to your Twitter and Facebook accounts too. Try and drive traffic to your site and direct people to sign up to your mailing list. Once a fan is on your mailing list, you can build up stronger relationships by communicating with them on a regular basis. The great thing about having your own website is that you can cleverly structure your pages in a way that can guide your visitor to doing exactly what you want them to do. For example, if you want to make song sales, simply divert them to a page with your best audio samples and include 'buy now' buttons.
Rating: 8/10
Review:
on 2012-07-26 Michael_Morrison Said:
Most would agree most popular artists out there have something truly special to give to their fans. This goes above the typical attributes like raw talent, amazing songs, nice voice, or even a very marketable look, sound and image. There's something truly infectious at the core of these artists that simply makes us feel good when we listen to them. Whatever "it" is - they all seem to have "it".
Today I listened to the latest EP from Los Angeles based Pilot Touhill who just released his latest EP entitled: "Keeping Secrets" in 2012. Venturing to his website I get the impression this is one artist that is extremely determined, dedicated and passionate about the songwriting craft. From start to finish this EP from Touhill and is a very entertaining musical experience. It has a very warm and inviting Pop-Reggae-Rock quality to it, and even dabbles in what I can festive rock. It also reminds me of Sublime, The Long Beach Dub All Stars, 311 and Fishbone. Any fans of any of these musical styles or bands will enjoy this latest release from Pilot Touhill. It's clearly marketed for those who like a male vocal front that will remind you of Bradley Nowell (Sublime). I get the impression Touhill is letting it all hang out via this compelling 6 track line up. In other words he hits the mark remarkably well by just by being who he is musically. Favorite tracks include (Never Gonna' Come) and (Sitting on Top of the World). The songwriting is impressive and digs a bit deeper than the next independent artist. Within each one of these pieces Touhill bares his soul and delivers what I would call pure musical mojo. It offers much in the way of passion and compelling-thought provoking lyrical content. The playing from Touhill's band are spot on and just makes the whole CD even more enjoyable. The overall vibe of the production is very uplifting and cheerful with pockets of hope shining through.
I don't care for the band name. Just the name can be a huge marketable factor for the band or artist in question. It just misses the mark for me.
I see Pilot Touhill as a diamond in the rough, with an amazing amount of potential. As time goes by we will no doubt hear more from him. He is a multi million dollar record contract waiting to happen. I also would'nt be surprised to hear his music on the Radio someday or even in a feature film. In close most famous artists out there have "it" I'm not so sure what it but Pilot Touhill has whatever "it" may be.
Michael Morrison
West Lothian, Scotland (UK)
Rating: 8/10
